Clothes drying machine having reversing drum drive means



March 1967 J. c. WORST CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE HAVING REVERSING DRUMDRIVE MEANS Filed March 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR TOSEPH C.WORST BY KW H \5 ATTORNEY J- C. WORST March 21, 1967 CLOTHES DRYINGMACHINE HAVING REVERSING DRUM DRIVE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March9, 1964 INVENTOR.

R E o w W w H m g o H I United States Patent Cfifiee 3,309,783 PatentedMar. 21, 1967 3,309,783 CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE HAVING REVERSENG DRUMDRIVE NEANS Joseph C. Worst, Louisville, Ky., assignor to GeneralElectric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No.350,344 3 Claims. (Cl. 34-48) This invention relates to clothes dryingmachines, and, more particularly to such machines of the type which havea basket rotating on a non-vertical axis, in which the clothes to bedried are tumbled in the basket during the drying operation.

The conventional approach to the tumbling of clothes in such baskets isto rotate the clothes basket continuously in one direction at a rate ofspeed which is appropriate to effect a tumbling pattern for the clothestherewithin. This is, of course, a simple type of structure, one whichcauses relatively little wear and tear on the parts of the machine.However, when a large load of clothes, with many pieces, is put into thedrum, or basket, of a clothes dryer to be tumbled, it often occurs that,because of the large quantity of clothes tumbling in a relativelyrestricted space, an undesirable amount of tangling occurs. When thishappens, the effectiveness of the dryer is impaired; in addition, it isdisagreeable for the operator to find the clothes tangled with eachother when she wishes to remove the clothes from the dryer at the end ofan operation.

This tangling action can best be prevented by reversing the direction ofrotation of the clothes basket on a cyclic basis, so that throughout adrying operation the basket rotates first in one direction and then inthe other. While this tumbling approach is effective to prevent tanglingof large loads, it provides virtually no improvement in average andsmall loads. Also, it will readily be seen that the cyclic reversal of arelatively large clothes drum with clothes therein constitutes quite astrain on the parts of the drying machine.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide an improvedclothes dryer wherein the operator may elect, depending upon the size ofthe clothes load to be dried, whether a cyclic reversal of the basketrotation takes place or whether it is precluded from taking lace.

In one aspect of my invention, I provide a clothes drying machinewherein clothes are dried in a basket which rotates on a substantiallynon vertical axis, suitable heating means being provided for heatingclothes in the basket so as to cause them to dry. The basket is rotatedalternatively in either one direction or the other by suitable drivemeans. The change from one direction to the other may be effectedcyclically by suitable reversing means which cause the drive means toreverse the rotation of the basket cyclically during a drying operation.Suitable means are provided to prevent this cyclic reversal from takingplace, and manual means are provided so that the operator mayselectively, depending upon the size of the clothes load, either provideunidirectional basket rotation or cyclic reversal.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of thisspecification. My invention, however, both as to organization and methodof operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may

best be understood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawmgs.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a clothes dryerincorporating my irnproved tumbling control arrangement, the view beingpartly broken away and partly sectionalized in order to illustratedetails;

FIGURE 2 is a view along line 2-2 in FIGURE 1 showing a portion of areversing mechanism, which may be used in the operation of my invention,arranged to provide a first direction of rotation;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the parts arranged toprovide the other direction of rotation; and 7 FIGURE 4 is a schematicillustration of an improved control circuit incorporating my invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the machine illustrated is a domestic clothesdryer generally indicated by the numeral 1. Dryer 1 is provided in theusual way with a cabinet 2 having a front door 3 to provide access tothe interior of the cabinet for loading or unloading clothes. Providedon the top wall 4 of cabinet 2 is a control panel 5 which may in theconventional way include controls 6 mounted in the panel. By operationof controls 6, the machine may be caused to start and automaticallyproceed through a cycle of operations.

Within cabinet 2, there is provided a clothes tumbling basket, or drum,7 mounted for rotation on a substantially non-vertical axis which, as inthe present case, is preferably horizontal. Drum '7 is substantiallycyclindrical in shape, having a first cylindrical wall portion 8, secondand third outer cylindrical wall portions 9 and 1t located respectivelyadjacent the front and back of the drum, a front wall 11, and a backwall 12. Outer wall portions 8, 9 and 1d are imperforate over theirentire length so that the outer shell of the basket is imperforate. Onthe interior surface of central portion 8 there may be provided aplurality of clothes tumbling ribs 13 so that clothes are lifted up whenthe drum rotates and then tumble back down to the bottom of the basket.This provides continuous flexing of the clothes and changing of theexposed surfaces thereof.

The front of drum 7 may be rotatably supported within outer casing 2 bysuitable idler wheels, one of which is shown by the numeral 14. TheseWheels are rotatably secured to the top of a member 15 which extends upfrom base 16 of the machine. Wheels 14 are disposed beneath the drum incontact with portion 9 thereof so as to support portion 9 on each sideto provide a stable support.

The rear end of drum 7 receives its support by means of a stub shaft 17extending from the center of wall 12. Shaft 17 is secured within abearing 18 formed in a bafiie 19 which, in turn, is rigidly secured tothe back wall 20 of cabinet 2 by any suitable means such as, forinstance, welding at a number of points 21. With the arrangement shown,the basket may rotate on a horizontal axis, with rollers 14 providingthe front support and stub shaft 17 within bearing 18 providing the rearsupport. In order to provide for the flow of a stream of drying airthrough the drum, the drum is provided with a central aperture 22 in itsfront wall 11 and with an opening in the form of a plurality ofperforations 23 in its rear wall 12, the perforations in the presentcase being formed to extend around the rear wall in an annulus.

As has been stated, baflde member 19 is rigidly secured to rear wall ofcabinet 2. Bafiie member 19 also serves to support heating means 24which includes two electrical resistance heating elements appropriatelyinsulated from the bafile member. The elements may be annular in shapeso as to be generally cmxtensive with perforations 23 in drum 7. Abafile member 25 is rigidly secured to the back wall 12 of the drumoutside the ring of perforations 23 and within the stationary baffle 19,so that an annular air inlet 26 is in effect formed by baflles 19 and25. In this manner a passage is formed for air to enter annular inletopening 26 between the baffles, pass over the heater 24, and then passthrough openings 27 formed in baffle 25 to the interior of drum 7.

The front opening 22 of the drum is substantially closed by means of astationary bulkhead generally indicated by the numeral 28. Bulkhead 28is made up of a number of adjacent members including the inner surface29 of access door 3, a stationary frame 30 for the door formed as aflange of front wall 31 of the cabinet, the inner surface member 32 ofan exhaust duct which is formed by the cooperation of member 32 with thefront wall 31 of the cabinet, and an annular flange 33 mounted on frame30 and on the duct wall. It will be noted that a suitable clearance isprovided between the inner edge of the drum Opening 22 and the edge ofbulkhead 28 so that there is no rubbing between the drum and thebulkhead during rotation of the drum. In order to prevent anysubstantial air leakage through opening 22 between the interior and theexterior of the drum, a suitable ring seal 34, preferably formed offelt-like material, is secured to flange 33 in sealing relationship withthe exterionwall surface of drum wall 11.

Front opening 22, in addition to serving as part of the air flow paththrough the drum, also serves as a means whereby clothes may be loadedinto and unloaded from the drum. Door 3, whose inner surface forms partof the bulkhead closing the opening, is mounted on cabinet 2 so thatwhen the door is opened clothes maybe inserted into or removed from thedrum through the door frame 30. It will be noted that the door includesan outer flange imperforate section 35 and an inwardly extending hollowsection 36 mounted on the flat outer section. Hollow section 36 extendsinto the door frame 30 when the door is closed, and the door surface 29which comprises part of the combination bulkhead 28 is actually theinner wall of the hollow section.

The air outlet from the drum is provided by a perforated opening 37formed in the inner wall 29 of hollow door section 36. The bottom wallsection of door 3 and the adjacent wall of door frame 30 are providedwith aligned openings 38 and 39, opening 39 providing the entrance tothe duct 40 formed by the cooperation of member 32 with front wall 31.As shown, a lint trap 41, which may comprise a fine mesh bag, ispreferably positioned in the exhaust duct 40 at opening 39, the bagbeing supported by the frame 30.

Duct 40 leads downwardly to an opening 42 formed in the member 15 whichsupports wheels 14. Opening 42 constitutes the inlet to a blower member43, contained within a housing 44 and directly driven by an electricmotor 45. The blower draws ambient air in over the heater 24, thenthrough the basket, then through the door 3 and the duct 40, and theninto the blower. From the blower the air passes through any appropriateduct (not shown) out of cabinet 2 so as to be exhausted from themachine.

In addition to driving blower 43, motor 45 constitutes the drive meansfor effecting rotation of basket 7. In order to effect this, motor 45 isprovided with a shaft 46 having a small pulley 47 formed at the endthereof. A belt 48 extends around pulley 47 and also entirely around thecylindrical wall section 8 of drum 7. The relative circumferences ofpulley 47 and wall section 8 cause the drum to be driven by the motor ata speed suitable to effect tumbling of clothes therein. In order toeffect proper tensioning of belt 48, there may be provided a suitableidler assembly 49 secured on the same support 50 which secures one endof the motor. Thus, the air is pulled through the drum and at the sametime the fabrics in the drum are tumbled. When the air is heated byheating elements 24, the heated air passing to the drum causesvaporization of moisture from the clothes. The vapor is carried off withthe air as it passes out of the machine.

Suitable means are provided for causing motor 45 to effect rotation ofbasket 7 in the direction opposite to that normally provided byoperation of the motor and transmission of motion to belt 48 by pulley47. In order to do this, an assembly, generally indicated by the numeral51, is provided under the control of a member 52 whose position in turnis controlled by a solenoid 53. The operation of this particular type ofreversing mechanism is completely described and claimed in LettersPatent No. 3,211,015 issued to John Bochan on Oct. 12, 1965, andassigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention.That application describes in complete detail how, when solenoid 53 isde-energized as shown, pulley 47 causes movement of belt 48 in a firstdirection (see FIGURE 2), and when the solenoid 53 is energized thepulley 54 extending from assembly 51 moves into engagement with the belt48, at the same time forcing the belt out of engagement with pulley 47(see FIGURE 3). Pulley 54 rotates in the opposite direction to pulley 47and therefore causes the belt to move in the opposite direction. Thus,cyclic energization and de-energization of solenoid 53 is effective tocause, cyclically, rotation of drum 7 first in one direction and thenthe other. It will be understood that the particular reversing mechanismshown is selected only for purposes of illustration, and that anysuitable reversing system may be utilized, including the reversiblemotor.

In summary then, when solenoid 53 is de-energized a first direction ofrotation of the basket is provided, when the solenoid is energized theopposite direction of rotation is provided, and when the solenoid 53 iscyclically energized and de-energized the basket rotates first in onedirection and then the other.

The operation of dryer 1 is controlled by the system shown in thecircuit diagram of FIGURE 4. As shown therein, the entire control systemof the machine may be energized across a three-wire power supply systemwhich includes supply conductors 55 and 56 and a neutral conductor 57.For domestic use, conductors 55 and 56 will normally be connected acrossa 220 volt power supply, with 110 volts appearing between the neutralline 57 and each of the conductors and with the neutral line being atground voltage.

Motor 45, connected between conductors 55 and 57, is a single-phaseinduction-type motor having a main winding 58 and a start winding 59,both connected at a common end to a conductor 60. Through a conventionaldoor switch 61 (which is cloesd when door 3 is closed and is opened whenthe door is open) conductor is connected to conductor 57. Start winding59 is connected in parallel with main winding 58 under the control of aspeed responsive device, such as that shown at 62 which is schematicallyshown as connected to rotor 63 of the motor. The speed responsive device62 controls a switch 64 which is engageable with either a contact 65 ora contact 66. Switch 64 is engaged with contact 65 when the machine isat rest and moves into engagement with contact 66 as the motor comes upto speed. It can readily be seen that engagement with contact 65connects the start winding in parallel with main winding 58, whilemovement of switch 64 away from this position opens the start winding.Thus, as rotor 63 comes up to speed the start winding becomesde-energized, and the motor then continues to run on the main winding 58alone.

The starting of the motor is provided by a manually operable switch 67which may, for instance, in the structure of FIGURE 1, be moved to itsclosed position by pulling out on control member 6. Switch 67 connectsthe motor to supply conductor 55, and is normally biased to the openposition shown. When member 6 is pulled out, energization of the motoris provided and within less than a second then, under normalcircumstances, the motor comes up to speed so that switch 64 engagescontact 66. As a result of this movement of the centrifugally operatedswitch 64, the main winding 58 of motor 45 continues to be energized bya bypass around switch 67 when member 6 is released and the switch 67opens.

A sequence control mechanism for the machine is provided which includesa timer motor 68 together with earns 69, 70 and 71 controlled thereby.Switches 72, 73 and 74 are respectively controlled by the cams 69, 70and 71. In order to put the machine into a position where a cycle ofoperations may take place, the cams 'are manually rotated to a startingposition wherein all three of their control switches are closed. This isconventionally done by rotating member 6 to the appropriate position.When the switches are closed, then the ene'rgization previouslydescribed of motor 45 may take place. In addition, the timer motor 68 isenergized through switch 72, after the motor comes up to speed so thatmechanism 62 closes a second centrifugal switch 75. The closure ofswitch 73 provides for energization of heater 24 across conductors 55and 56, that is, across the full 220 volt source of supply. In adidtion,it is conventional in the art to supply one or more control thermostats,such as that indicated by the numeral 76, so that an appropriate controlmay be provided for the heat.

The arrangement shown constitutes one means of providing a dryingoperation of a predetermined length of time, that is, the sequencecontrol mechanism comprised of timer motor 68, and the cams and switchescontrolled thereby, constitutes a control mechanism for providing adrying operation. It will be understood that this merely represents atypical control mechanism, and that other control mechanisms, either forproviding pure timed operations such as is involved here, or forproviding an operation which is responsive to other factors such asdryness of the clothes, may be used with equal success. In the presentcase, it will be understood that the member 6 is initially rotated atpredetermined amount so that, with all three switches closed, it willtake a certain amount of operation of the timer motor 68 and rotation ofcams 69, 70 and 71 before they reach the point where they open theirswitches 72, 73 and 74 to end the drying operation.

In addition, there is provided 'across the conductors 55 and 57 a secondtimer motor 77 which may be energized when a switch 78 is closed. Switch78 is ganged to a switch 79, with both of them being controlled by amanual member 80 provided on the front of control panel 5, as shown, soas to be selectively operable by an operator. The timer motor 77operates a cam 81 which in turn controls a switch 82.

Solenoid 53, which controls the rotation-reversing mechanism 51, is inseries with switches 79 and 82, so that when both switches are closedthe solenoid is energized to" cause basket rotation in one direction;when either or both of the switches is opened, the solenoid isde-energized and rotation occurs in the other direction as previouslydescribed. Timer motor 77; when it is energized by closure of switch 78,is arranged so that it keeps switch 82 closed for an appropriate period,and then open for a like period. In practice, I prefer to have theperiods exceed 30 seconds so as to minimize the wear on the machine; infact, even periods of three minutes have been found to provide adequateuntangling characteristics. In other words, there is a cyclic openingand closing of switch 82 and therefore a cyclic energization andde-energization of solenoid 53. This, in turn, results in a cyclicreversal of the direction of rotation of basket 7. When switches 78 and79 are opened, the timer motor 77 is de-energized and the solenoid 53 isde-energized, thus ensuring rotation of the basket in a particulardirection on a continuous basis.

As described above, continuous rotation of the basket 7 in the samedirection with large loads tends to result in tangling, with a resultantdecrease in the effectiveness of the drying operation, and withdifiiculty being caused to the operator in separating the clothes asthey are pulled out of the machine. Thus, appropriate markings (notshown) may be provided on the control panel 5 adjacent member 80 so asto indicate that switches 78 and 79 are to in the position shown for aregular load, and to be in the closed position for a large load. Whatthis does, then, is to provide continuous operation in the samedirection for a regular load and cyclic reversal, at the selectedintervals, of the direction of basket rotation when 'a large load is tobe dried.

Thus, my invention provides an arrangement wherein the specialprovisions desirable for proper tumbling of large loads are provided,yet smaller loads may be tumbled without the wear and tear on themachine which results from a cyclic reversal being provided at all timeseven when it is not necessary.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what atpresent is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the invention,and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all suchequivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. A clothes drying machine comprising:

(a) a clothes basket rotatable on a substantially nonvertical axis;

(b) heating means for heating clothes in said basket to cause dryingthereof;

(c) drive means for rotating said basket alternatively in either onedirection or in another direction;

(d) control means for providing a drying operation during which saidheating means and said rotating means are operated;-

(e) reversing means for cyclically causing said drive means to reversethe rotation of said basket during an operation;

(f) and manual means for selectively actuating said reversing means, sothat a user of said drying machine may select unidirectional orcyclically reversing rotation of said clothes basket.

2. A clothes drying machine comprising:

(a) a clothes basket rotatable on a substantially nonvertical axis;

(b) heating means for heating clothes in said basket to cause dryingthereof;

(c) drive means for rotating said basket alternatively in either onedirection or in another direction;

(d) control means for providing a drying operation during which saidheating means and said rotating means are operated;

(e) reversing means for cyclically causing said drive means to reversethe rotation of said basket during an operation, said reversing meanscomprising an electrical element causing rotation to be in one directionwhen energized and rotation to be in the other direction whende-energized, a switch in series with said electrical element, and atimer effective when energized to cycle said switch open and closed;

(f) and manual means for selectively energizing said timer, so that auser of said drying machine may select unidirectional or cyclicallyreversing rotation of said clothes basket.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein said drive means comprises aunidirectional motor, and a transmis- 7 8 trical element controllingsaid transmission to determine 2,906,035 9/1959 Moss 3445 the directionof output rotation of said transmission. 2,961,776 11/ 1960 Hughes34--133 3,161,481 12/1964 Edwards 3445 References Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS 5 FREDERICK L. MATTESON, JR., Primary Examiner.

2,283,612 5/1942 Perry 68-19 JOHN CAMBY: Exammer- 2,643,463 6/1953Grantham 3445 D. A. TAMBURRO, Assistant Examiner.

1. A CLOTHES DRYING MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) A CLOTHES BASKET ROTATABLEON A SUBSTANTIALLY NONVERTICAL AXIS; (B) HEATING MEANS FOR HEATINGCLOTHES IN SAID BASKET TO CAUSE DRYING THEREOF; (C) DRIVE MEANS FORROTATING SAID BASKET ALTERNATIVELY IN EITHER ONE DIRECTION OR IN ANOTHERDIRECTION; (D) CONTROL MEANS FOR PROVIDING A DRYING OPERATION DURINGWHICH SAID HEATING MEANS AND SAID ROTATING MEANS ARE OPERATED; (E)REVERSING MEANS FOR CYCLICALLY CAUSING SAID DRIVE MEANS TO REVERSE THEROTATION OF SAID BASKET DURING AN OPERATION; (F) AND MANUAL MEANS FORSELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID REVERSING MEANS, SO THAT A USER OF SAIDDRYING MACHINE MAY SELECT UNIDIRECTIONAL OR CYCLICALLY REVERSINGROTATION OF SAID CLOTHES BASKET.